2016 F-Type Gets Manual Transmission, All-Wheel Drive

As hint-promised, Jaguar announced today at the Los Angeles Auto Show that the 2016 F-Type will offer a manual transmission for the V6 models and all-wheel drive for all models. And there was much rejoicing.

Why is the manual transmission only for the V6 and not the V8? Hush, child. Santa has already delivered his presents. He’s tired and wants a brandy.

The ability to control gear shifts is a deep concern for “purists” and hopefully the six-speed ZF gearbox will be found acceptable by the people. Jaguar exec Russ Varney sounded a bit baffled as to why the company is doing it.

“These things [transmissions] don’t come cheap, but if you want to establish a credible car, then there are certain things that you have to go and execute.”

All-wheel drive, on the other hand, has a bit more obvious value: it keeps novices with too much horsepower from killing themselves, as we’ve written about before on this blog. It is hefty, however, and will add about 176 pounds to the F-Type, which is worth considering.

That said, you will go faster—particularly if you stick with the automatic transmission—and isn’t that all that really matters?

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